The University of Melbourne has welcomed today’s announcement of a new $18 million (USD) investment in Bionic Vision Technologies (BVT), the commercialisation company of the former Bionic Vision Australia (BVA).

The investment from Hong Kong-based company China Huarong International Holdings Limited, together with State Path Capital Limited BVI, will join with existing Australian stakeholders to commercialise the bionic eye implant.

University of Melbourne researchers from Engineering, Science and Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences are among a national consortium supported by the Australian government, who are working together to develop bionic eye devices. The long-term aim of the resulting technology is to restore the sense of vision to people with vision impairment.

This partnership of world-leading research institutions includes the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales, Western Sydney University, Bionics Institute, Centre for Eye Research Australia, National ICT Australia (now Data61), Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and National Vision Research Institute.

Professor Mark Hargreaves, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Collaboration & Partnerships) and Chair BVA, noted that the investment was a valuable expansion of support to a project dedicated to providing health and economic benefits to Australians.

“As an academic community, we are constantly striving to deliver research outcomes that offer real-world impact, such as this work that has been undertaken with our partners in the field of bionic vision science. That this investment helps ensure future work in this field is very welcome.”